Word Origin & History

1590s, "out of the way," from Latin devius "out of the way, remote, off the main road," from de via (see deviate). Originally in the Latin literal sense; figurative sense of "deceitful" is first recorded 1630s. Related: Deviously; deviousness. Figurative senses of the Latin word were "retired, sequestered, wandering in the byways, foolish, inconsistent."

Example Sentences fordeviousness

There is in your heart a simplicity which the white man can never fathom and a deviousness which he can never understand.

But the deviousness and aberration of our human faculties frequently amount to something considerably more serious than this.

They operated with a deviousness that made cartel treacheries seem like child's play.